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“You would think in 2015 this kind of legislation wouldn't be happening,” said Kim Fountain, executive director of Pride Center Vermont.

She said she was disappointed to hear Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed Bill 101 into law. Critics said it opens up the possibility of discrimination against same-sex couples.

“As someone who works for an anti-violence program, we have a project called safe space, we understand when there's state sanctioned discrimination, it only increases the likelihood of violence against LGBT folks,” said Fountain.

Bill 101 prohibits the government from interfering with a person or business owner's ability to practice religion. Opponents, like Willie Docto of the Vermont Gay Tourism Association, argue the bill gives businesses the opportunity to refuse service to the LGBT community.

“There is no exclusion to gay and lesbian customers. So they in theory would be able to discriminate against LGBT customers,” Docto said.

Fountain said this is a very serious reality.

“We've heard stories like that all the way to things like signs being posted in windows that say, 'We do not serve gay folks.' And we all know the last time we saw those kinds of signs go up,” Fountain said.

In response to the bill's passing, both Governor Shumlin and Governor Cuomo banned nonessential state-funded travel to Indiana. After a public-employee union cancelled its women's conference in Indianapolis, Shumlin invited the group to host the event in Vermont.

Docto sayid this decision sends a clear message.

“This is a statement that the state needs to make that this is not right, this is not who we are, as Americans we need to welcome everybody,” Docto said.

Docto calls the new law an overreaction to the possibility that marriage equality will spread throughout the country.

In response to backlash, Indiana Governor Mike Pence said today he is asking for clarification that the law doesn't allow discrimination by the end of the week.